Do you ever wonder what you should be spending your time on? Do you feel like you should be doing more? Do you find yourself getting stuck sometimes doing ‘busy’ work or going round in circles?
It could be because you are not sure what to do next! I know I’ve been there. Instead of focusing on things that would help me reach my goals I would procrastinate and check out what’s going on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest!
Well, my reality check came when I realized there are only 3 main things I should be doing. So if you are off track and need to get back then ask yourself which one of the three things below you should be doing right now!
Content Creation – This represents everything your business is all about. This includes products or services you sell, blog content, video and audio content, email newsletters, and anything else you do with content. Do you need to create more?
Traffic Generation – This is all about getting new eyeballs to view your content. This includes everything you do to create more traffic to your offers. Do you need more traffic?
Relationship Building – Is all about what you do with those that come check out your blog, email newsletter, social networks, etc. Do you need to build more relationships?
Everything else is just busy work! If you want results get crackin’ on one of them right now! I sure am!
What do you think? Did I OVER simplify things? Let me know below!
Hi Lisa!
I don’t think you’ve oversimplified it at all. In fact, we need more simplification since many of us (especially me) tend to over-complicate things.
This is similar to Carrie Wilkerson’s motive matrix where she talks about focusing on one motive when deciding how to prioritize your actions. I think the motives were immediate cash, generating leads, getting new appointments (not sure how that relates to PLR), and product creation.
I think if you take the three areas you identified and then figure out your motive for the month for each, you can then prioritize actions for that month.
Am I now over-complicating it?
– Sharyn
Me too Sharyn! I am always looking to simplify! I especially over-complicate things too! And no you are not over-complicating it lol!
I think the next part to figure out is how much to focus on one without neglecting the others. The balancing act is what I’m having trouble with.
What is this balancing act you speak of? LOL
I’ve always looked for balance in doing the writing I want to do; fiction vs. non-fiction, but I always get tunnel vision on one or the other. Urgh!
Right now I’m focusing mainly on fiction because I’ve been away from it for a year. My writing and my writing life have been lifeless lately. It’s time to dig up some skeletons and see what twisted plots I can drag them through. 😉
BALANCE uuugh! I will find it! Sounds like you are headed in the right direction…doing what matters to you most. That’s always good! 😉
Great post Lisa!
I just might write those three things down and post it next to my computer. That way when I find myself doing anything else online (not that that EVER happens, lol), I will remind myself to get back on track!
It seems that I like to get side-tracked with the “busy work”…and have to give myself a swift kick to get back into focus. 😉
You have a great simple list of tasks! Too many marketers over complicate matters.
Thanks Bridget! Good idea! I think I need to write them down too… 🙂
Rhonda…I always have to give myself a swift kick to get back focused lol! I’m trying hard not to over complicate matters!
Lisa,
I think the simplification is awesome. And for people like me who get sidetracked REALLY easy (can you say multi-tasking on overdrive?), it’s great to have a basic list like this. I can print it out, post it on my wall and stick it on my computer background so I can see it at any time… lets me catch myself a lot sooner when I start wandering!!
Thanks for keeping it simple!!
Couldn’t have explained it better myself! My problem is trying to balance doing all three things. I think that’s where outsourcing becomes important. Once you begin to outsource, it should free you up to accomplish even more in less time.
Hi Lisa,
I think you nailed it just right. Those are the three things that will build a blogging business or cause it to fail.
Yet, we do tend to overcomplicate things and forget. And like yourself, I often spend time on sites that are not contributing to my growth!
We have to watch that.
Hey Debi! I agree – simplification IS awesome! And I’m working on doing this more and more in my business. That’s key – to catch yourself before you start wandering.
Hi David! Yes boy do we have to watch it because it is so easy to get distracted! Now I need to create a better plan to incorporate these 3 things into my day-to-day operations! 🙂
Yes Kim! That’s my problem too! I need a better plan when it comes to balancing all three things! Outsource does help but you still have to manage it. So there is some balancing there too!
I know one top income earner Lisa that will tell you that you’re leaving out conversions. Now that’s mostly for those of us who are here to build a business because you can do the content creation and get the traffic to your site but if no one is buying what you have to offer, the rest isn’t really helping you.
I prefer the relationship building because to me that’s how you get people interested in you personally so that they’ll take a second look at what you’re all about. So I definitely think that has to be on the list. The conversion part would be the last piece of that puzzle in my opinion.
I agree though, great job with simplifying this.
~Adrienne
Adrienne you are so right! I would add that under traffic generation. To me that goes hand and hand with traffic. So maybe I am oversimplifying it haha!
Interesting stuff here Lisa. I think in totality I’d agree with the first and the last, but only for those whose businesses depend on online success need #2. But the other two really are powerful and simple at the same time because, for those of us who work for ourselves, that’s really what it’s all about. If I could stop getting distracted by other stuff and focus on those two things I’d be as rich as… well, name someone. 🙂
Hey Mitch! Really? I think offline businesses or business that don’t operate much online need traffic too lol. Yeah 1 and 3 are really simple and should be our focus. And I totally hear you on getting distracted!! Let’s stop that and start focusing! 🙂
Excellent short post that says it all. The KISS principal is alive and well everywhere.
It is with words as with sunbeams. The more they are condensed, the deeper they burn. ~Robert Southey.
With so many distractions online these days it’s so easy to be busy being busy but get nothing done. And since I love quotes, here’s another:
It is my ambition to say in ten sentences what other men say in whole books – what other men do not say in whole books. ~Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, Twilight of the Idols
Well, if you keep creating good posts like this one, it will go a long way towards reaching your goals for this blog. 🙂 This post is a good reminder to all of us.
Yes KISS is key to not getting information OVERload! HAHA love your ambition to say in ten sentences what other men say in whole books! That is a great thing to aim for and what I want to do here! I loving keeping it simple in everything I do.